Grizzlies Game Day: Defense can't rest against Spurs in Game 2

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) crashed into Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) as he tries to drives to the basket during the first half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio.(Photo: Eric Gay/AP)

SAN ANTONIO – Among the lessons the San Antonio Spurs delivered in Game 1 is that defense must be a constant.

They allowed just 52 points over the final three quarters after the Grizzlies torched the Spurs with 30 points in the opening quarter. As much as Grizzlies coach David Fizdale wants to get Mike Conley and Zach Randolph going offensively, he knows one key to stealing Game 2 is throwing a stronger defensive effort at the Spurs.

The Grizzlies lost control of the game’s pace in their first outing of this first-round playoff series. The Spurs didn’t score 100 points in either of their final three-regular season meetings. San Antonio averaged 45-percent shooting in those games.

Memphis doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to contend with San Antonio when it scores 111 points and shoots at a 53-percent clip as it did in Game 1. Fizdale lamented that the Grizzlies’ defensive effort waned as Game 1 grew old because they weren’t scoring.

“That’s been our trend over the year. If our offense just dies, at a certain point, our defense just goes ‘Goodness gracious, we can’t take it no more’ and it collapses,” Fizdale said. “I don’t want to see that but the dam broke after a while. We missed three open threes to start the (second half). Mike (Conley) missed a wide-open floater and, over the course of that, (the Spurs) kept pounding. An all it takes is one big run from the Spurs.”

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, argues a call with referee Josh Tiven (58) during Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay, AP

San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) chase a loose ball during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 111-82. Eric Gay, AP

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills celebrates during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 111-82. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay, AP

Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) scores against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay, AP

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 111-82. Eric Gay, AP

Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale reacts to a call during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. Eric Gay, AP

Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale reacts to a call during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay, AP

Memphis Grizzlies guard Wayne Selden (7) is blocked by San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) as he tries to score during the first half of Game 1 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. Eric Gay/AP

Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale calls to his players during the first half of Game 1 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/AP

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandan Wright (34) is stripped of the ball by San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) as he tries to score during the first half of Game 1 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/AP

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandan Wright (34) is stripped of the ball by San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) as he tries to score during the first half of Game 1 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/AP

Memphis Grizzlies fans sit in a sea of San Antonio Spurs t-shirts as they wait for the start of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series between the Grizzlies and Spurs, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. Eric Gay/AP

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) crashed into Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Carter (15) as he tries to drives to the basket during the first half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in San Antonio. Eric Gay/AP

San Antonio led 74-64 with 1:53 left in the third quarter and closed the quarter on a 10-0 run. The Spurs added the first nine points of the fourth quarter. During that stretch, the Grizzlies missed nine consecutive shots and committed three turnovers.

“Our mental breakdown last game happened because we played good defense a few possessions in a row and they made a contest shot or off the glass or at the end of the shot clock,” Conley said. “We can’t let that affect the way we play. We can’t let that affect our pace and our position mentally.”

Here are three other things to know as the Grizzlies prepare for Game 2 of their first-round series against the Spurs on Monday (Fox Sports Southeast; WMFS 92.9 FM/680 AM):

1. Fizdale made it clear that forward/center Brandan Wright will play meaningful minutes in Game 2. Wright logged just five minutes in the series opener.

2. Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen joined the Grizzlies at practice Sunday. But he wore a walking boot on his right foot and still is nursing a calf strain. Allen likely won’t play in the series, leaving 40-year-old Vince Carter to chase Spurs all-star forward Kawhi Leonard. It’s a difficult assignment and Leonard showed why with a career playoff-high tying 32 points in Game 1.

“He’s a guy who can make tough shots,” Carter said. “As good as a defensive play you think you may have made, he still can make a tough shot. It can be demoralizing sometimes. You just have to stay the course and make it tough for him. He’s earned all of the accolades he’s gotten. He competes on every play. My job is to compete.”

3. Memphis is trying to snap a nine-game postseason losing streak against San Antonio. Part of the remedy will be finding a third scorer to complement Conley and Marc Gasol.

"I need Vince to have a big game, and I didn’t the best job of getting Z-Bo (Zach Randolph) in a rhythm," Fizdale said. "We spent some time on how to get Z-Bo loose at least to be a real threat. He didn’t get into a mode of being a real threat last game. His stuff came more out of random (action). I want to be deliberate with the way we get him involved."

There you go. A sample of what you need to know to get an early start on your Griz day.